Made to measure
Media walls and TV units
A media wall is a stud-framed feature wall with the television recessed into it, usually with an electric fire below and cables hidden inside. A fitted media wall typically runs £1,500 to £4,000 depending on the width, the fire, and whether the finish is plastered or panelled.
What this covers
What it costs. A fitted media wall costs £1,500 to £4,000. Full cost breakdown.
What the job covers
- Stud-framed media walls with recessed TV
- Electric fire and hearth openings
- Cable management and power routing
- Integrated shelving and lighting
- Plastered and painted finish, ready to decorate
What is involved
The carpentry is a timber or metal stud frame built off the existing wall, deep enough to take the TV, the fire and the cable runs. That depth is the design decision: 150mm is enough for a slim fire and a flat mount, 250mm or more if the fire is inset or the TV needs a swing bracket. Noggins, short lengths of timber between the studs, go in wherever something will be screwed to the wall later, so a TV bracket fixes into solid timber rather than plasterboard alone.
Heat and power are the two things to plan most carefully. Electric fires need a stated clearance above the opening, and a TV mounted straight above a fire without that gap will run hot. Sockets go inside the void with a spur, which is electrician's work and needs to be planned before the frame is closed up. Conduit for HDMI and power is cheap at frame stage and much harder to add afterwards.
Stud-framed media walls with recessed TV, one of the jobs under media walls.
Choosing someone for the job
Ask where the sockets will sit and who is doing the electrical work. Ask what clearance the chosen fire needs and confirm the TV position respects it. Ask whether they will run spare conduit, because the cost is minutes now and a day later.
Worth reading first:
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Common questions
How deep does a media wall need to be?
Usually 150mm to 250mm. A slim electric fire and a flat TV mount fit in 150mm; an inset fire, a tilting bracket or a soundbar recess push it deeper.
Can I put a TV above an electric fire?
Yes, if the manufacturer's clearance is respected. Most electric fires vent forward and upward and state a minimum distance to anything mounted above.